Puzzled on the MP15 Sport- pls help

[S1MPLMN3]

I actually asked him if the 1/8 barrel was available on any model and he said "no".

 

[cyphertext]

Lol, just keeps getting better. Was he clear that he was refering to the 15T and not the sport? In the email response I recieved they included a blurb about the sport switching to a 1/9 as if it refered to my rifle but that they would switch it out any way. I'm kind of afraid to send it in. Who knows what would come back.

Might as well send it in...worst case is that it comes home with another 1:9 barrel on it.

 

[cyphertext]

My primary reason for buying my 'T' was for the 5R barrel.

The place I bought it from must have a large, very large stock of older weapons if they do not come with the 5R barrel.

Info sheet on S&W website STILL states they come with 5R's.

I think like the general concension, somebody (a rep) has the model numbers screwed up when talking about the barrel change over. They oughta talk model numbers, not names.

Seems if the S&W website is giving false info they'd be opeining themselves up to all sorts of nasty litigation. I believe the web-master's info, not a salesman's or rep or Tech or wudevah.

Name, model number, no difference...if you confuse the Sport name with 15T, chances are you won't keep model numbers straight either.

When the changeover happened to the Sport, the website showed it with the 1:8 barrel for a while too. Customer Support should have the most current product data.

They should have just left well enough alone. Funny how the non-milspec barrel on the budget gun is now sought after and considered "premium"...

 

[oneyeopn]

Wow....this has dang sure gone the entire gamut of one thing or another. If you have any questions up in the notable thread index is a thread, "Barrel Specs for Sport" http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p15-rifle/213731-barrel-specs-sport.html...it gives a ton of engineering information on why melonite surpasses chrome and the testing that proves it......When I first got my Sport with the 1:8 5R barrel I expected it to be like any other AR platform rifle I had ever fired so I took it out to sight in. It was amazing to me. Then I took out my Dads Colt Hbar, a friend and his new Bushmaster and my Sport. With me pulling the trigger and all of them shooting the same ammo, silver bear or tulammo I cant remember the sport shot rings around the other ones. So I did research. Thompson Center makes the barrels and all of their rifles have 5R rifling, the top tier Remington rifles have 5R rifling and as Cyphertext pointed out a lot of competition shooters use it. I ended up making my Sport my prairie dog gun with regular shots in the 250yrd range....kept switching back and forth between a 6-24x50 Bushnell and an 8-32x42 Optronics...right now its running a 6-24x42 Bushnell and is my favorite shooter.....about a month ago I went with GFarmer and his wife as their guest to a real shooting club in Topeka Ks. I got the opportunity to shoot the 9twist barrel on either a "t" or an "o" with a bushnell red dot. I didnt shoot it for accuracy on the paper targets at the 100 yard mark, without magnification all I could see were rings but there were gongs at 200 yards and 300 yards, 10" and 12" respectively. I was ringing them right and left and finished the day with a new respect for the other barrel. Without my big scope I cannot tell you how small a target you can hit at those distances with the 9 but I believe it shoots tremendously well. Laser straight I dont know but danged good.
I really wish S&W would get themselves together as far as barrels....dropping the 1:8 5R barrel just makes them another rifle maker in a crowded field of makers. A lot of them are starting to use Melonite, they may just call it something else. Glock calls it Tennifer. They did give you something special with the other barrel, without out its just another AR.

p.s. and the 8 twist barrel shoots 55gr bullets beautifully....I am playing around with 40gr and 45gr and it is shooting them beautifully also.

 

[cyphertext]

Reply from S&W support...

As I had mentioned previously, all models that are listed on our website with 1/8 twist 5R barrels are still being made and have NOT changed. The ONLY model that has changed is the Sport, that now uses standard 6R rifling and a 1/9 twist. Customer service has been contacted to let them know that incorrect information was accidentally given out. If someone comes across a 15T that has a 1/9 twist non 5R barrel, call customer service. If for some reason you are given information that contradicts what I am stating, please contact me directly.

I don't know about information posted on other boards, or others post. There are no other authorized S&W reps on any other board right now except for here on AR15.com.

Thank you, S&W

 

[Vinney47]

I have the OR with a 1/9 barrel and my son shoots a Sport that I bought last year. The sport has the 1/8 5R barrel. My son outshot me with his. We shot both of them back to back. I also shot his sport as well. It did not matter who shot the sport, it still outshot the OR. Now when I say it outshot the OR here was the difference. I was using the same bullets in both guns. They were reloads. I was shooting Hornady 55 gr Vmax with Varget powder. At 100 yards the sport put 3 shots smaller than a dime. The OR put 3 shots slightly larger than a dime at 100 yards. Both guns are topped with Nikon P223 3x9 BDC scopes. I was able to compare both rifles and my findings indicate that the sport is more accurate. I also felt that the test was very fair in regards to using the same ammo, same scope and I was shooting with a Caldwell lead sled also.

I will also say that I am happy with my OR and the 1/9 barrel. It shoots good enough for me. There is a difference between the two barrels, with the 1/8 5R barrel being more accurate, but I still enjoy the OR. OP do not let the 1/9 barrel put you off of the gun. BTW, both rifles have had Magpul furniture installed on them. The sport has OD green and the OR has foliage green on it. I hope this helps.

I think it would be interesting to do the same test, but with a few different types of ammo. Otherwise you just know that the sport shoots that particular ammo in tighter groups. Or, to be more precise that your sons sport shoots that ammo more accurate than your OR.

Anyway it would be interesting to see if the OR ever had better results over the sport with a different round.

 

[Vinney47]

I really wish S&W would get themselves together as far as barrels....dropping the 1:8 5R barrel just makes them another rifle maker in a crowded field of makers. A lot of them are starting to use Melonite, they may just call it something else. Glock calls it Tennifer. They did give you something special with the other barrel, without out its just another AR.
beautifully also.

Smith and Wesson only dropped the 1:8 5R on the sport, other models of their M&P15 still come with it. It's just that now if you want it you have to pay a bit more than the sport's asking price...